Page 78 of You. Me. Us.

“Hillary, over here!”

“One more question, please!”

The voices of the reporters faded into a distant buzz as Hillary continued to search, her gaze darting from one unfamiliar face to another. The flash of lights and the spots from the lights on the path made it impossible for her to see more than a few inches in front of her face.

Come on, Julius. Where are you?She could feel the cracks forming in her carefully crafted facade, the smile on her lipsbeginning to strain. He was supposed to be here for red carpet photos.

“Need a hand?” Ethan appeared beside her looking utterly handsome in a beige suit and purple tie. She wasn’t certain why he had a purple tie on, but her stomach swirled with worry that someone was going to think it was intentional.

“Yes, let us get one question in. Rumor is you both are past flames in the movie and the dangerous bounty hunter breaks that up?” A female reporter questioned.

Ethan stepped up beside her, smooth as ever, but kept his hands to himself as he posed beside her.

“You’ve got this. Don’t let his missing appearance take your thunder.” Ethan whispered before giving her a wink.

He’s not all bad. Not always.

Nodding her thanks she turned back to face the cameras and pose as if she wasn’t entirely uncomfortable in front of a sea of people, purposefully ignoring a question she didn’t want to answer.

Her breath caught in her throat as she saw him, the man who had captured her heart, confidently striding toward her through the crowd as if he weren’t late or the most handsome person here. Julius moved with a purpose, his gaze locked with hers, a magnetic force drawing them together.

As he drew closer, Hillary could see the intensity in his deep blue eyes, a swirl of emotions that mirrored her own. In that moment, the world around them faded away to nothingness. The flashing cameras, the clamoring reporters, the glitz and glamor of the red carpet, all melted into a blurring background. The smile that tugged at his lips was for her, not Ethan and it captured her the way it had that first day at comic con. It was as if they were the only two people in existence, their connection palpable and undeniable instead of standing in front of hundreds of people.

That single smile couldn’t be just for the cameras, not while he looked at her. The realization washed over Hillary like a warm embrace, soothing the doubts that had plagued her mind. The corners of her lips curved into a genuine smile, one that reached her eyes and lit up her entire face. A rush of joy rushed through, threatening to tip her forward if she rushed to meet him halfway, even though he’d not asked her to.

His presence was like a balm to her frayed nerves, his confidence and charm radiating from him in waves. Hillary couldn’t tear her gaze away from his, he was actually smiling at her. Not in front of a camera, but behind one. This was a moment that was not orchestrated, she was certain of it.

As Julius finally reached her, he extended his hand, a silent invitation for her to join him. Hillary’s heart raced, her skin tingling with anticipation as she slipped her hand into his, their fingers interlacing as if they were always meant to be together.

“You look stunning, Hillary,” Julius murmured, his voice low and filled with admiration. “Will you step off the carpet with me? Just for a moment when this portion is done?”

“Yes,” she replied softly, her heart seeming to speed up as worry overtook the hope from a moment ago.

Hand in hand, they turned to face the cameras, she didn’t know what he was getting at, but if there was desire to play up the romance for their characters, the PR team didn’t inform her.

His presence was both comforting and confusing. He posed with an effortless grace, his smile dazzling the photographers as they clamored for the perfect shot. Hillary, on the other hand, experienced a whirlwind of emotions—exhilaration at his closeness, uncertainty about what it meant, and a desperate longing to understand the depths of their connection.

As the flashes continued to illuminate their faces, Julius leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. “Follow mylead,” he whispered, his voice sending shivers down her spine. “That will be all, we’ll see you all after the viewing!”

Before Hillary could respond, Julius gently tugged her hand, guiding her away from the chaos of the red carpet. She followed, her heart pounding in her chest as they navigated through the throng of celebrities and media personnel.

With unwavering determination, Julius led Hillary toward a secluded corner, away from the prying eyes of the public. He didn’t know how long he’d have this moment to express the feelings that had been consuming him for so long, but he wasn’t going to let the press steal it if he could avoid it.

As they reached the quiet alcove, he turned to face her, his blue eyes intense with emotion.

“Hillary,” he began, his voice slightly trembling with the weight of his words. “I couldn’t let another moment pass without telling you how I feel.”

He reached out, gently caressing her cheek with his fingertips. The softness of her skin, the warmth of her presence, it all served to strengthen his resolve.This is it. This is my chance to lay it all on the line. This is my grand gesture to a woman who likely cannot stand grand gestures.

“These last few months have been awful, downright horrible.” Julius let his gaze locked with hers. “I’ve missed you more than should make any sense, and more than I ever want to miss another person again.”

He paused, searching her eyes for any sign of reciprocation, any glimmer of hope that she might feel the same way. The world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in a moment of raw honesty and vulnerability.

“I can’t imagine my life without you in it,” Julius confessed, his voice growing stronger with each word. “Every momentwe’ve shared, every laugh, every conversation, they’ve all led me to this realization. I want to spend forever with you, Hillary. I want to wake up every morning knowing that you’re by my side. I fucked up letting you get sucked into Ethan’s orbit. I just assumed he understood what I felt for you and that you’d know to tell me everything so we could work through it. Leaving you like that, it was a dick move and one I’ll never be able to apologize enough for, but will every day if you’ll let me.”

He took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest as he prepared to lay bare his soul.

This is the most important thing I’ll ever say. I have to get it right.

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